BACKGROUND: Methotrexate, a folate antimetabolite, is used to treat atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Although methotrexate's therapeutic efficacy has been noted in the literature, there are few data on the efficacy of methotrexate treatment for allergic contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of methotrexate in treating allergic contact dermatitis at a single institution, and also to assess methotrexate efficacy in patients with chronic, unavoidable allergen exposure...

Contact allergies are common cause of eczema in all age groups and are one of the most common causes of occupational disability. Contact dermatitis can be divided into irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Distinguishing between irritant and allergic triggers of contact dermatitis by clinical and histologic examinations can be challenging. The approach to patients with contact dermatitis should consist of a detailed (work and leisure) history, skin examination, patch tests with allergens based on history, physical examination, education on materials that contain the allergen and adequate therapy and prevention...

INTRODUCTION: Tattooing has become a popular practice in western countries, particularly among younger populations. Tattoos, however, can cause complications, such as infections, allergic or foreign-body reactions, and even systemic inflammatory responses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients seen for tattoo-related complications at our skin allergy unit between January 2002 and December 2016. RESULTS: We studied 23 patients...

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and propylene glycol (PG) are used as vehicles in various medicinal and cosmetic products. They are potential contact sensitizers, including low molecular weight PEGs in nitrofurazone preparations that are still widely used in Turkey. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis caused by PEG and PG in a relatively large group of patients in Turkey. METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional, single-centre study, 836 patients patch tested with PEG and PG between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed...

BACKGROUND: Topical ointments containing fradiomycin sulfate, such as fradiomycin sulfate/methylprednisolone (F/M) and fradiomycin sulfate/betamethasone sodium phosphate (F/B), are known to cause allergic contact dermatitis (CD) in some patients, especially when used for the periocular region. F/M is commonly prescribed to patients for various conditions; however, there are no reports with respect to the incidence of CD caused by F/M in actual practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the incidence of CD using a data-based retrospective cohort study...

The main allergen responsible for contact dermatitis to nail polish is tosylamide-formaldehyde resin. The so-called hypoallergenic nail polishes are suposedly free of agents that commonly trigger reactions. The commercially available products and their compositions were studied. It was observed that most brands present at least one component capable of triggering the disease; therefore, allergic reaction may occur even when hypoallergenic polishes are used. There should be a proper investigation of the specific allergen through a patch test, because more than one component can cause an allergy, and we need to check the exact composition of each product...

Possibly hazardous chemical substances and mixtures need to be clearly and correctly classified and labelled, in order for their hazards to be properly identified and communicated. As dermatologists may encounter cases of harm to patients induced by chemicals, such as chemical burns, and irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, it is essential for them to be aware of the EU CLP Regulation and its potential pitfalls. Manufacturers are required by CLP to classify their products according to the rules given in the CLP Regulation...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Childhood allergic contact dermatitis is recognized as a significant clinical problem. The objective was to evaluate the rate of positive patch tests in Israeli children with clinically suspected allergic contact dermatitis, identify possible sex and age differences, compare results with those in Israeli adults, and review pediatric studies in the literature. METHODS: The study sample included 343 children and adolescents (197 female, 146 male; 1-18 years of age, mean age 11...

70-year-old white man presented with a 6-week history of an acute pruritic eruption in the axillary vaults, inguinal folds, and central lumbar area. Due to the severity of the pruritus, the patient was evaluated in the emergency department. He was treated with intramuscular triamcinolone, oral fluconazole, clobetasol cream, and miconazole powder, which provided only minimal relief. The patient had presented with brightly erythematous patches in the axillary vaults and inguinal folds with numerous erythematous, scaly, coalescing papules and plaques agminated on the lumbar region (Figure)...

The first patient was a 41-year-old white man who was referred to the dermatology clinic with a 2-year history of numerous erythematous, hypoesthetic, poorly demarcated papules and plaques present on the trunk, buttocks, and bilateral upper and lower extremities (Figures 1 and 2). The lesions had initially begun as localized erythematous plaques on the right flank, and were diagnosed and treated as cellulitis and allergic contact dermatitis by primary care on separate occasions, with no resolution and continued gradual but persistent spread...

BACKGROUND: Body piercing provides a unique route of metal exposure. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to update previous analyses using the North American Contact Dermatitis Group data comparing pierced and unpierced individuals. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 17,912 patients patch tested by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 2007 to 2014 for demographics, positive reactions to metals (nickel, cobalt, chromium), and detailed analysis of nickel reactions by age, sex, and source of exposure...

Endogenous electrophilic fatty acids mediate anti-inflammatory responses by modulating metabolic and inflammatory signal transduction and gene expression. Nitro-fatty acids and other electrophilic fatty acids may thus be useful for the prevention and treatment of immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory skin disorders. In this regard, subcutaneous (SC) injections of nitro oleic acid (OA-NO2), an exemplary nitro-fatty acid, inhibit skin inflammation in a model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Given the nitration of unsaturated fatty acids during metabolic and inflammatory processes and the growing use of fatty acids in topical formulations, we sought to further study the effect of nitro-fatty acids on cutaneous inflammation...

To investigate the expression profile of monocyte chemoattractant peptide-1 (MCP-1) by keratinocytes after nickel exposure and to identify its role for leucocyte migration during nickel-induced occupational allergic contact dermatitis (OACD), 26 workers diagnosed with nickel-induced OACD were enrolled. Skin biopsies from the positive nickel-challenged sites at different time points were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for MCP-1, CD68, CD45RO, and in situ hybridization (ISH) for MCP-1, using chronic periumbilical dermititis as controls...

Contact sensitization is the initial process involved in the development of an allergic reaction to xenobiotic environmental substances. Here, we briefly describe the differences between irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Then, we highlight the essential steps involved in the development of an ACD reaction, i.e., the protein binding of haptens, genetic factors influencing the penetration of sensitizers into the skin, the different mechanisms driving the initial development of an inflammatory cytokine micromilieu enabling the full maturation of dendritic cells, the role of pre- and pro-haptens, antigen presentation and T cell activation via MHC and CD1 molecules, dendritic cell (DC) migration, and potential LC contribution as well as the different T cell subsets involved in ACD...